My story is not that different than most. I am 38 did not start hard drinking till 25 or so. Drank more and more over the next 10 years. Was a functional all the time, working no problems with the law etc.. (one wet reckless). I was a high level athlete in college (distance running) by the time I was 36 I was starting to live in the baffling world of an alcoholic, thinking I could cut back, going to work hung over, gained 20-30 pounds, having problems with relationships.

My drinking problem was simple, I would drink 1-2+ bottles of wine per night and more on weekends. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I could tell my health was really taking a hit. I had a friend that was active in the recovery world and had done 7 years of sobriety. He came to visit me and convinced me to go to the Betty Ford Center for 3 months. I did this and largely benefited from their program. However, AA was always a hard pill for me to swallow and Betty ford is a hard core 12 step program. I did follow the BF plan with AA.. for 14 months, total sobriety. I stopped the AA after about 9-10 months.

I had read Dr Eskapa's book at about 6 months of sobriety. Thought it was interesting but did not think about it again. Well to fast forward I started drinking again early this past January. My drinking quickly evolved back to where things were before. Missing days of work(I am self employed) bad hang overs. I was prepared to go back to sobriety and AA. I just did not feel it was a fit for me. To me AA is too much like a religion, I am a Secular Humanist and am against organized religion. With 90% of AA meetings Ending with the Lords prayer I could not go back.

I recalled Dr Eskapas book and read it again. I went through all the challenges I have read about in getting a prescription for Naltrexone. My normal Dr rejected me. I found a Psychiatrist locally that did give me a 6 month prescription.

The results have been as good as I can have hoped for. The first 1-3 weeks there were some "failed" drinking experiences, in that I drank sometimes like before NAL.. (i always took it 1hr before drinking). Now the past 2 weeks have I had no ill effects from drinking. I have kept a log and I will calculate it per this board. A general summary is that I drink 2-5 drinks in one session and really dont want any more.. I have 2-3+ AF days a week.

My goal is to be able to drink in moderation. So far just 1 month into taking Nal I can say the $15 co pay per 30 day supply is a lot cheaper than $40k+ at Betty ford. I will say that I dont think that the Sinclair method will work as well if I did not have the knowledge that I got at Betty ford.

I did have some family dysfunction and issues that I am sure lead me to drinking. I learned a lot about myself and how to deal with life. I am not sure the Sinclair method would work as well if you dont have the desire to be under control. The effects of drinking are barely noticeable. If I drink a glass of wine or even 2-3 I only get a very light buzz. You need to be OK with that and I am. I will NEVER drink again without NAL..

I am wise enough to know that the AA world will not be open to this method and I do not advise anyone with long term Sobriety to try this unless they understand the entire process. I live in the Northern California Area.. I am open to chatting with anyone that is local and wants any support with this amazing pathway to getting out of Alcoholic drinking

Welcome to the board. Hundreds of people are seeing major results on this board, so long as they follow the rule: take nal one hour before drinking, every time you drink. The journey is non-linear and is a roller coaster. Just when you think you can take or leave alcohol, you will be triggered to drink again. But after six months or so, 80% plus here no longer are slaves to alcohol.

My best,

Nick

Greetings, Life!

I am in my 7th week in TSM. For once I feel that I am in real treatment! My Higher Power is science. And I am most comfortable in knowing that.

I, too, attended a pricey rehab. It is in Brighton, Michigan and is called "W.E.M.A.C." I was the only voluntary client because I was surrounded by about 75 health care professionals like pharmacists, Doctors, Nurses, MedaVac nurses, etc. All of them were on the brink of losing their licenses because they were busted diverting morphine, dilaudid, oxycontin, etc.

I am glad I went. Because, like you, I learned a lot about myself and the consequences of my out of control behavior. One Doctor said something that I carry with me to this very day, "You can't think your way to new behavior, you must behave your way into new thinking." I believe that.

I also have a problem with AA. As Minneapolis Nick has said: It is a cult. It is!! Please do not tell me that I am weak, powerless and immoral. That's nonsense. I can't stand the jargon like, "Poor me, poor me, pour me another drink" and, "My best thinking got me here" and, "Hi, I'm _____________, I'm an alcoholic." God, I loathe that!

We will spin this treatment paradigm on its head. You watch. TSM is better than white knuckling it through 12 miserable steps anyday and twice on Sunday!

Anyway, glad you are here. What if in say 6 to 12 months from now when you have "regained control" over your drinking that you are able to return to BF and speak about your successful treatment with the help of Naltrexone? Now that's a goal!

Welcome to this forum,

Ketchikan1

Thanks for the responses. As a secular humanist (unitarian)... AA is 100% the opposite of what I think. I believe in science and reasoning. I also find that AA takes on the power of fear rather than love. Many of the reasons that leads one to drink are challenging life experiences, family dysfunction. There are a lot of great people in AA and I am not hear to disparage what they get out of it. It is the one size that fits all.. did not work for me. I agree I am not powerless over anything, I take responsibly for my actions.

The fact that Nal is not widely promoted as at least a solid option for alcoholics is one of many travesties of our medical system. Betty Ford Center is a great place I am very glad I got to spend time there, as I said I dont know that I could succeed as well with the sinclair method without it. I would love to speak at BFC about this, but as outlined in the book.. the Sinclair method is so opposite of what they preach I doubt it would be well received. BFC is a non profit organization but at the end of the day money is important to them. Many of the people there really do want to help people with addiction, I just wish they were more open minded.

It's virtually impossible to learn something new when your pay is dependent upon an obsolete ideology.

Here's a fact: BFC and AA are rendered completely and utterly irrelevant by naltrexone. But there is a profit motive and jobs on the line for thousands of people in the addiction field so they will not go down without a fight. It's a bit like the oil companies and alternative power. The oil companies are going to actively reject solar, wind and electric power as alternatives in order to maintain the status quo and to protect their monopoly.

The fact that Betty Ford and the other major rehab places DO NOT EVEN DISCUSS PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION TO THOSE WHO RELAPSE is conclusive proof that they are more worried about the bottom line than the health of those they purport to serve. There is no other logical explanation. And it's nothing less than a crime, IMO. Before I found TSM, I was considering out-patient treatment which consisted of nothing more than a few AA meetings a week and a $4,000 a month tab. Incomprehensible.

Tonight I went to my mom's house and had one glass of wine and no interest in any more. Two years ago I would have had a couple of drinks before I went, would have concealed the five or so I'd have at her place and then I'd come home and drink more. But Betty Ford Clinic will not even tell you that naltrexone exists. Shameful.

I continue to be ecstatic of my experience with TSM. THis weekend... had 1 glass of wine both nights and had little to no desire for more. I have found there is a sort of 5 drink limit to the power of NAL. If I go over 5 drinks then the effects seem to wear off. I am starting to rethink my way of thinking about drinking. Even though I do not buy into AA.. there is a mentally with it that you have failed when you drink. Now I judge a "Failure" if drinking had a negative effect on me. It has been 3 weeks now since drinking has caused me me any ill will and I have only been doing TSM for 5 weeks.

The TSM has so much potential that I think 60 mins should do a story on it. I do think there is a place for betty ford or rehab with the TSM.

Individuals that are in severe stages of alcoholism do need medical assistance. Also many people have a lot of pain and other issues that often lead them to drink. Unless those issues are dealt with I am not sure TSM would work as well. I really will not hold my breath till places like BFC move away from 12 step programs. BFC has a 25% success rate and that is regarded as among the best out there. So the fact that a strong majority of people do not "stay sober" shows me that this is not very good. The fact that they do not want to give TSM a chance is really reckless and further proof that AA is a cult, and BFC is part of it.